Ordnance Survey Leisure Maps Summary Lists

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PLEASE NOTE I have the occasional enquiry through these pages about whether I buy and sell maps. I'm not a map dealer but here to compile and revise lists of Ordnance Survey small scale maps. If you are looking for a trader, I recommend you start with the Charles Close Society list of map dealers here.

All Ordnance Survey Leisure Maps were re-branded from June 2015. The editions began to change from alphanumeric style - i.e. B2/ - (used since the 1950s), back to month/year style.

The Half-inch National Grid Series Maps.The half-inch map was published from 1903. After 1947 a National, or 'Second Series' was planned but only four of 51 sheets were published. The series was abandoned due to competition from private map publishers and the resources needed for other small scale mapping, especially the one-inch series.

The one-inch New Popular and Seventh Series Maps.The renowned red-covered maps of the post-war period familiar to the more mature map user are listed here. The New Popular Edition Map of Great Britain was first published between 1945-7 in 114 sheets (England and Wales only), later replaced by the Seventh Series map of Great Britain between 1952-62 in 190 sheets. It was superseded by the adoption of a metric scale map by the OS, and the publication of the 1:50 000 (later the Landranger) map from 1974.A map still popular for study by men (and women) of a certain age who remember steam with their trains and distances in miles and yards.

The 1:50 000 (Landranger) Map. Adoption of the metric system by the Ordnance Survey in the 1960s resulted in the need for a new product to replace the much-loved one-inch map. After trialling a number of specifications, it was decided to adopt the 1:50 000 as the new scale and a new Magenta cover. The first 102 sheets were published in 1974 covering Britain south of the Hull - Preston line. All but three of these sheets were produced in a First Series.

1:25 000 Maps. Click on cover images to go directly to Series lists.Current 1:25 000 series maps - often called 2½-inch maps - owe there beginnings to sheets produced for the military during the Second World War. It was realised that during the post-war reconstruction, town & country planners and the general public would enjoy a map at a scale between the one-inch (1:63 360) and ten-inch (1: 10 560) available in the 1930s.
The new map at 1:25 000 began to appear as a Provisional Edition in 1945, followed by a small number of experimental Regular Edition sheets in 1956.
A Second Series appeared in 1965 (later named Pathfinder Maps) followed by Outdoor Leisure Maps. The Survey introduced a new series in 1994, based on Pathfinder mapping, named the Explorer.

1:50 000 and 1:25 000 Maps of Ireland.
The Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland began publishing sheets of what later became the Discoverer Series in 1978, shortly after the appearance of the 1:50 000 map in Great Britain. The Ordnance Survey of Ireland followed suit with the first of their Discovery sheets in 1988. Coverage of Ireland by the two series was completed in 1999.

Town, City and Neighbourhood Maps."From 1979 and through the 1980s, Ordnance Survey published a small series of 'City', 'Town' and 'Neighbourhood' maps which covered selected places around the country. These maps used the recently surveyed or revised 1:10 000 scale mapping." (Ed Fielden)

Road Maps and Atlases.A check-list of 1:625 000 ("Ten-mile") and 1:250 000 ("Quarter-inch") roads maps, along with motoring atlases of the 1980s to 2000s.

Post-War Small Scale Index Maps. 'Available at your nearest Ordnance Survey map stockist', index maps gave details of current map availability, their sheet lines and the progress of the map's publication. Usually free, they were often discarded or buried deep in a collector's 'archive'.
Sometimes found among the odd 'n' sods in second-hand book and charity shops, index maps are a fruitful, if curious, corner of OS map appreciation.

Historical MapsThe Ordnance Survey have produced a number of Historical, or 'period', Maps since 1924. Currently the only maps produced are those of Ancient Britain and Roman Britain.

GuidebooksFrom the early 1990s the OS began to produce a series of guidebooks in partnership with other publishers and using 1:25,000 and other scale mapping, including Guides to Waterways, Cycle Tours, Recreational Path Guides, and National Trial Guides. Currently the company produces Pathfinder Guides, Short Walks, and City Walks.

An Inch to the Mile. The Godfrey Edition [England and Wales]Alan Godfrey Maps are publishing facsimile editions of one-inch map edition maps published in the late 19th and early 20th century. The sheets are exceptionally good quality reproduction at a staggeringly small price. New ones are published every month.

Landranger Map Cover Designs.This article lists all Landranger Map cover changes since its first publication. Published in Sheetlines, the Journal of The Charles Close Society in April 2017. This link to the published version, and this link to the continuation page.

Leisure map catalogue.Download the current catalogue of Small Scale paper products (PDF).

ALSO OF INTEREST

The Charles Close Society was founded in 1980 to bring together all those with an interest in the maps and history of the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain and its counterparts in the island of Ireland. The Society takes its name from Colonel Sir Charles Arden-Close, OS Director General from 1911 to 1922, and initiator of many of the maps now sought after by collectors. A man of immense stature and accomplishment, he was the link between the OS traditions of the nineteenth century and the future practices of the twentieth.
"The Society publishes a wide range of books and booklets on historic OS map series and also a journal, Sheetlines, which is recognised internationally for its specialist articles on Ordnance Survey-related topics, as well as containing news items and less serious pieces. Society members take part in regular visits to mapping organisations and map libraries at home and abroad, with a varied programme of meetings, including the ever-popular annual map market.
"Membership is open to all, and now numbers 750, some with a professional interest in maps, others current and former Ordnance Survey staff, students, amateur collectors and many who simply love maps. New members are always welcome" Click here to find out how to join.

Ordnancemaps is for anyone with an interest in Ordnance Survey Maps to ask questions, assist in research, and pass on information on any aspect of Ordnance Survey maps.

The author - Leslie (Lez) V Watson - has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work. I use Notepad++ script editor and Firefox web browser.♣v10.4 :: February 2018